GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
last match results
Found 3 definitions
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Wring (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wrung (?), Obs. Wringed (); p. pr. & vb. n. Wringing.] [OE. wringen, AS. wringan; akin to LG. & D. wringen, OHG. ringan to struggle, G. ringen, Sw. vränga to distort, Dan. vringle to twist. Cf. Wrangle, Wrench, Wrong.]
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1. To twist and compress; to turn and strain with violence; to writhe; to squeeze hard; to pinch; as, “to wring clothes in washing”. “Earnestly wringing Waverley's hand.” Sir W. Scott. “Wring him by the nose.” Shak.
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[His steed] so sweat that men might him wring. Chaucer.
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The king began to find where his shoe did wring him. Bacon.
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The priest shall bring it [a dove] unto the altar, and wring off his head. Lev. i. 15.
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2. Hence, to pain; to distress; to torment; to torture.
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Too much grieved and wrung by an uneasy and strait fortune. Clarendon.
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Didst thou taste but half the griefs
That wring my soul, thou couldst not talk thus coldly. Addison.
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3. To distort; to pervert; to wrest.
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How dare men thus wring the Scriptures? Whitgift.
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4. To extract or obtain by twisting and compressing; to squeeze or press (out); hence, to extort; to draw forth by violence, or against resistance or repugnance; -- usually with out or form.
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Your overkindness doth wring tears from me. Shak.
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He rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece. Judg. vi. 38.
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5. To subject to extortion; to afflict, or oppress, in order to enforce compliance.
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To wring the widow from her 'customed right. Shak.
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The merchant adventures have been often wronged and wringed to the quick. Hayward.
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6. (Naut.) To bend or strain out of its position; as, “to wring a mast”.
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Wring, v. i. To writhe; to twist, as with anguish.
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'T is all men's office to speak patience
To those that wring under the load of sorrow. Shak.
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Look where the sister of the king of France
Sits wringing of her hands, and beats her breast. Marlowe.
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Wring, n. A writhing, as in anguish; a twisting; a griping. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
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